Schwan’s USA CUP MNUFC Division

Minnesota State Cup champions and ODP to participate in new elite MNUFC division in conjunction with USA Cup

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (March 28, 2018) — Minnesota United FC (MNUFC), Minnesota’s Major League Soccer team, and the National Sports Center (NSC) announced today that they are partnering to promote a new invitational elite “tournament within a tournament” at the annual Schwan’s USA CUP International Youth Soccer Tournament at the NSC in Blaine, Minnesota, in July.

The MNUFC Division will be offered for two divisions in 2018, boys’ Under 13 (2005 birth year) and girls’ Under 16 (2002). Up to eight teams per division will play during the Schwan’s USA CUP, July 17–21, 2018. The Minnesota State Cup Champions will be invited as well as a team selected from US Youth Soccer Minnesota Olympic Development Program (ODP) for these two age groups giving them the opportunity to compete in a select tournament with international teams.

Teams will play one game per day, with championship matches coinciding with USA CUP’s championship day on Saturday, July 21. Games will be played on the NSC’s stadium field (U1) and the adjoining Exhibition Field (U2). All MNUFC Division games will live-streamed.

“We will be recruiting teams nationally,” said Aaron Schmidt, Schwan’s USA CUP Recruiting Director. “Some of the teams playing may be teams that have performed at a high level at USA CUP in the past, but we expect to tap into high level teams that are new to USA CUP.”

This is a unique opportunity where the best teams from Minnesota State Cup and players from ODP compete against teams nationally and internationally,” said John Curtis, MYSA Director of Coaching and Player Development.

“The MNUFC division provides Schwan’s USA CUP a competitive platform for selected clubs,” said Ryan Brooks, MNUFC’s Academy General Manager.“ They will experience matches against unfamiliar opponents in a professional environment, all while competing in one of the largest tournaments in the world.”

Teams interested in playing in the MNUFC Division at the 2018 Schwan’s USA CUP should contact Aaron Schmidt at aschmidt@nscsports.org, 763.717.3889 (office) or 763.202.0865 (cell).